Assembling machines



Dec. 6, 1960 H. GULBRANDSEN 2,962,735 ASSEMBLING MACHINES Filed Jan. 8, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 O Int/en for o He/ge Gu/branasen Dec. 6, 1960 H. GULBRANDSEN 2,962,735

ASSEMBLING MACHINES Filed Jan. 8, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 6, 1960 Filed Jan. 8, 1958 H. GULBRANDSEN ASSEMBLING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent C F ASSEMBLING MACHINES Helge Gulbraudsen, Beverly, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Boston, Mass, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Jan. 8, 1958, Ser. No. 707,737

14 Claims. (Cl. 12-1) This invention relates to machines for use in the manufacture of shoes and is herein illustrated in its application to machines for assembling shoe upper parts on their lasts. A machine of this type is illustrated and described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,602,618, granted October 12, 1926, on an application filed in the name of Norwood H. Knowlton.

In the assembling of shoe upper parts on their lasts by means of machines of the type illustrated in the Knowlton patent above referred to, the location of the shoe upper parts relatively to the last is dependent entirely upon the skill and care of the operator. While machines of this type have been found generally satisfactory in present shoemaking practices and procedures and a large number of these machines are now in commercial use, the manufacture of shoes by means of automatic machinery now in the development stage requires a more accurate registration of the shoe upper parts upon the last than can be reliably achieved in machines of the type illustrated in the Knowlton patent. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide in a machine of this type means for accurately determining the position of the upper heightwise of the heel end portion of the last and means whereby the operator can determine accurately the orientation of the heel end portion of the upper relatively to the last.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the present invention, in one aspect thereof, contemplates the provision in a shoe machine having a wiper for wiping the bottom margin of a shoe upper inwardly over an insole on a last bottom and means for fastening the overwiped margin to the insole, of upper gaging means incorporated in the wiper and projecting therefrom in the direction of wiping movement and affording means whereby the operator can determine at a glance whether the back seam at the extremity of the heel portion of the upper is correctly positioned widthwise of the last. The last supporting means includes means for orienting the last thereby to determine the angular relation of the last and the upper thereon to the wiper. In the illustrated organization the upper gaging means is positioned in gaging relation to a shoe upper when the work is located at an inspection station intermediate between a loading station and an operating station and a suitable stop is provided for arresting the work support at the inspection station to facilitate the inspection thereof by the operator. If the inspection of the upper indicates that the back seam is correctly positioned with relation to the last the operator advances the work from the inspection station to the operating station preparatory to the operation of the wiping and fastening inserting instrumentalities of the machine. If the back seam is incorrectly positioned the required adjustment is quickly and accurately made at the inspection station. In order to provide for movement of the work from the inspection station to the operating station the means for arresting the work support .at the inspection station includes a spacer positioned between the work support and an abutment member and arranged for movement into a position in which it is out of registration with the abutment member. Suitable means is provided for returning the spacer to its position of registration with the abutment member upon the return of the work support to the loading station.

In order to enable the operator to position a shoe upper in accurately predetermined relation heightwise thereof to a last on the work support, the present invention contemplates the provision of a height gage mounted on the work support and arranged to be advanced into operative position by a movement of a last relatively to the work support. In the illustrated organization a plunger mounted in the work support is operated by the move ment of the last to advance the gage member from its retracted position in which it .is normally retained by suitable spring biased means.

These and other features of the invention will now be described with relation to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a left side elevation illustrating a machine embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, taken in section substantially on the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view illustrating the heel end of a last and shoe parts assembled thereon in relation to an abutment member and a lasting wiper;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 3, showing the shoe in a position relatively to the operating instrumentalities different from that illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a left side elevation showing the heel end of a shoe in the operating station and illustrating particularly the abutment members and associated mechanisms;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in front elevation illustratina means for gaging the position of the heel end portion of a shoe upper on the last;

Fig. 7 is a left side elevation showing the upper gaging means in a position different from that shown in Fig, 5; and

Fig. 8 is a left side elevation showing one of the abutment assemblies in a position different from that shown in Fig. 5.

The invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine of the type illustrated, for example, in the Knowlton Patent No. 1,602,618, hereinbefore referred to. Machines of this tyne comprise a machine frame or column 10 having at its upper end a head 12 *inwhich'is mounted a carrier 13 having secured thereto a lasting wiper 14 which operates locally at the back line portion of 'a shoe upper to wipe the lasting margin of the upper inwardly over an insole on a last bottom. Associated with the wiper is 'a tack driver 16 which drives twotac ks through the overwiped margin of the back line portion of the upper and through the insole, clenching the tacks against a metal plate on the heel end portion of the last bottom.

For mounting a last such, for example as the last 13, illustrated in Fig. 5, and a shoeupper20'loosely mounted thereon, the illustrated machine is provided wt h a work su port shown in Fig. l and identified generally by the numeral 22. The work support comprises a carrier member 24 pivotally mounted at 26 on the base of the r achine column. Fixed in the carrier 24 is a support n bar '28 on which is pivotally mounted a plug 3'3. Sl'd bly mounted on the plug 30 is a tubular jack post 32 which is sustained in an initially elevated position by a .relatively light spring (not shown) contained within the jack post. The spring rests on the plug 30 and engages at its upper end-a pin extending diametrically through the jack post. Mounted for sliding movement in the upper portion of the jack post 32 is a short shaft 34 (Fig. having at its upper end a pin 36 which receives the thimble in the heel end portion of the last. A screw 38 in the shaft 34 holds the shaft against turning movement in the tube by its engagement in a slot 40 formed in the tube. Loosely surrounding the upper end of the shaft 34 and resting on top of the jack post 32 is a sleeve 42 which has formed in its upper edge stepped notches which locate the last pin 36 at different heights relatively to the jack post by engagement with a pin 44 in the shaft 34. At the upper end of the shaft 34 is a forwardly offset head 46 to which is fixed a block 48. Projecting upwardly from the block at opposite sides of its forward end portion are two ears 50 constructed and arranged to engage opposite edge faces of a plate 52 secured to the plane cone face of the last 18 thereby to determine the orientation of the last relatively to the block 48 and to hold the last against angular movement on the last pin 36.

For positively holding the last against downward movement during the wiping and tacking operations a pawl 54 is secured in a tubular forward extension 56 of a rocker member 58 and arranged to engage any one of a plurality of ratchet teeth 60 formed in a sleeve 62 fixed to the jack post 32. The rocker member 58 is mounted on opposed fulcrum elements 64 mounted in the channel shaped upper end portion of the carrier 24. In order to hold the jack post 32 against swiveling movement the fulcrum elements 64 are axially bored to receive two fiat headed pins 66 which engage slabbed off surfaces at opposite sides of the sleeve 62. The fulcrum elements 64 are axially adjustable in the carrier 24 in order to position the pins 66 in sliding engagement with the slabbed off surfaces of the sleeve 62. When the jack is swung forwardly into its loading station illustrated in Fig. 1 a spring pressed plunger (not shown) engages the rear portion of the rocker member 58 and urges it in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 1, thereby to hold the pawl 54 out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 60 in order to permit axial movement of the jack post 32 relatively to the plug 30. In the operation of the machine a cam book 68 is actuated by a spring 70 to engage a roll 72 freely mounted on a cross pin 74 fixed in ears 76 projecting rearwardly from the upper end portion of the carrier 24. The cam hook moves the carrier 24 rearwardly relatively to the jack post 32 and rocks the rocker member 58 in a counterclockwise direction, as seen'in Fig. l, to bring the pawl 54 into engagement with one of the ratchet teeth 60 thereby to hold the jack post 32 and the last mounted thereon positively against downward movement.

During the rearward movement of the work supporting assembly from the loading station the last 18, together with the jack post 32, are moved downwardly to bring the last into predetermined'heightwise relation to the plane in which operates the wiper 14 by the operation of a depressor 78 constructed and arranged to engage an insole on the last bottom. The depressor is fixed in the upper portion of a vertical bar 80 which is longitudinally slotted near its central portion to provide for the mounting of the bar on a collar 82 (Fig. 2) mounted on an extension of the right-hand fulcrum element 64. For causing the depressor to move downwardly during the swinging movement of the work supporting assembly from its loading station, an arm 84 (Fig. 1) has its lower end portion pivotally mounted on the bar 80 and its upper end mounted to swing on a fixed fulcrum 86. The depressor member is substantially similar to a depressor member disclosed in the Knowlton patent, hereinbefore referred to, to which reference may be had for a more detailed description of the construction and operation of the depressor member and the work supporting organization.

In order to permit the operator to gage the post'ton of the back line portion of the upper (Fig. 5) height- Wise thereof relatively to the last 18 the illustrated machine is provided with a gage member constructed and arranged to engage the top margin of the upper in the region of the back seam. The gage member is illustrated in the drawings as an inverted U-shaped structure 88 (Fig. 6) positioned between parallel horizontal arms 90 extending rearwardly from the block 48. The gage member swings into and from its gaging position illustrated in Fig. 5 on a headed cross pin 92 mounted in the end portions of the arms 90. The gage member is swung from its rest position illustrated in Fig. 7 into its operative position illustrated in Fig. 5 by means operated by the downward movement of the last 18 onto the pin 36. During such downward movement the plate 52 on the cone face of the last engages the upper end of a vertical pin 94 slidably mounted in a bore in the rear portion of the block 48 and moves the pin downwardly from its position in Fig. 7 to its position illustrated in Fig. 5. The rear portion of the block 48 is recessed at 96 to provide clearance for the movement of the head of the pln94. The head of the pin bears against the horizontal arm of a bell crank lever 98 pivotally mounted on the cross pin 92. As shown in Fig. 6, the bell crank lever is provided with a pair of spaced vertical arms having at their upper ends outwardly extending ears 100 which engage the legs of the gage member 88 during the retracting movement of the gage member. The downward movement of the pin 94 swings the bell crank lever 98 in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 5, and the bell crank lever acts against a spring 102 to advance the gage member forwardly into its last engaging position shown in Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 6, the spring 102 is coiled about the central portion of the cross pin 92 and has an upwardly extending leg which engages a cross pin 104 mounted in the legs of the gage member. The other end of the spring extends downwardly for engagement with the base of a recess formed in the bell crank lever 98. It will be seen that the spring 102 serves as a resiliently yielding lever whereby the bell crank lever 98 advances the gage member 88 into its last engaging po sition. For returning the gage member to its rest position illustrated in Fig. 7 a spring 106 is mounted on the cross pin 92 and arranged to impart to the bell crank lever movement in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 6, the spring 106 has a rec.- tilinear central portion parallel to the cross pin 92 and arranged to engage the bottom surface of the horizontal arm of the bell crank lever 98. Projecting upwardly from the opposite ends of the rectilinear portion are coils surrounding the opposite end portions of the cross pin 92, the ends of the spring extending inwardly from the coils being arranged to engage the upper surfaces of the arms 90. The tension of the coils urges the rectilinear portion of the spring upwardly. Thus, it will be seen that upon the removal of the last from the work support the spring 106 swings the bell crank lever in a counterclockwise direction to return the gage member 88 to its position illustrated in Fig. 7, this position being determined by the engagement of the head of the plunger 94 with the base of the recess 96 in the block 48.

In order to permit the operator to inspect the work thereby to determine whether the heel end portion'of the upper is correctly oriented with relation to the last, the-illustrated machine is provided with meansfor arresting the rearward movement of the jack post 32 to provide an insepction station in which the shoe is located a fraction of an inch forward of the operating station. To this end the illustrated machine is provided with an abutment member in the form of a headed screw 108 (Fig. 1) adjustably mounted in the forward extremity of the horizontal portion of an angle plate 110 securedto a head casting 112. Referring to Fig. 8, the jack post 32 is arrested at the inspection station by the engagement of a collar 114 mounted on the jack post with the forward extremity of a suitable spacer the rear end face of which engages the abutment screw when the jack post is in the inspection station. The spacer is herein illustrated as a horizontal bar having a forwardly extending shank portion 116 (Fig. 8) the rounded end of which is engaged by the collar 114. An enlarged rear portion 118 of the spacer is slotted to receive two headed pins 120 mounted in and projecting laterally from a plate 122 secured to the lower portion of a plate 1124 fixed to the machine head. The shank portions of the pins 120 support the spacer in its rest position, illustrated in Fig. 5, and the heads of the pins hold the enlarged rear portion of the spacer against lateral displacement from its position of sliding engagement with the plate 122. Each of the slots in the spacer comprises a forwardly offset upper horizontal section 126 and a rearwardly offset lower horizontal section 128 which opens into the upper section. The upper section 126 terminates at its rear extremity in a cam face 130 extending downwardly and rearwardly with relation to the upper wall of the sot. The spacer is normally held at the limit of its forward and upward movement by a spring 132 which acts on a sliding horizontal bar 134 which has mounted in its rear portion an upstanding pin 136 arranged to engage the rear end face of the spacer. The forward portion of the sliding bar 134 is mounted in a suitable bore in a bracket 138 secured to the upper portion of the machine column 1t and the rear portion of the bar is sl dably mounted in a notch formed in the upper portion of an angle plate 141) fixed to the base of the head casting 112. In order to prevent angular displacement of the pin 136 by rotation of the bar 134 its rear end portion is slabbed off at opposite sides thereof, as indcated at 142 in Figs. 5 and 8, and the notch in the angle plate 140 is provided with straight sides spaced for engagement with the slabbed off surfaces of the bar. As shown in Fig. l, the forward end of the bar 134 is normally located slightly in advance of the forward end of the spacer so that the collar 114 first engages the bar 134 moving it rearwardly to disengage the pin 136 from the rear face of the spacer and then engages the forward end of the spacer and moves it rearwardly from its position in Fig. 1 to its position illustrated in Fig. 8 in which it is arrested by the abutment screw 108 with the jack post and the work thereon located in the inspectjon station. The spacer remains in this position only so long as it is frictionally held between the collar 114 and the abutment screw 108 by the application of rearward pressure against the jack post by the operator. Upon completion of his inspection, if the operator finds the upper to be correctly oriented upon the last, he releases the rearward pressure against the jack to permit the spacer to be moved downwardly by gravity into a posItion in which the rear end face of the spacer is out of registration with the abutment screw 168. Thereupon, the operator advances the jack post from the inspection station to the operating station. During this movement of the jack post the spacer moves idly rearwardly into its position shown in Fig. 5.

At the inspection station (Fig. 3) the heel end porton of the upper is arranged in proximate relation to the V-shaped forward portion of an abutment member 144 slidably mounted for horizontal movement in a T-way formed in a lateral extension 146 of the upper portion of the plate 124. When the work is in the inspection station the abutment member 144 is held at the limit of its forward movement by a spring 148 the rear end of which is anchored to a pin 1S0 projecting upwardly from a block 151 fixed to the rear end portion of the abutment member and the forward end of which is an chored to a pin 152 fixed in the upper portion of the plate 124. The position of the work in the opearting station (Fig. 4) is determined by the engagement of a shoulder 154 formed in the forward portion of the abutment member 144 with the forward surface of the plate 124.

During the movement of the jack post 32 from the inspection station to the operating station a bar 156 (Fig. l) pivotally connected to the carrier 24 and extending rearwardly therefrom through the machine column 10 operates a one-revolution clutch mechanism to initiate the power cycle of the machine.

In order to facilitate the inspection of the upper to determine the orientation of its rear end portion relatively to the last, the wiper member 14 has a forwardly extending tongue 158 (Fig. 3) provided with a central notch 16%). When the extremity of the heel portion of the upper is correctly oriented upon the last, the back seam 162 connecting the quarter portions of the upper, is centrally positioned relatively to the side walls of the notch, as shown in Fig. 3.

In the operation of the illustrated machine a last, such for example as the last 18 the heel end of which is shown in Fig. 5, is mounted in inverted position upon the last pin 36. The last 18 is characterized by the "metal plate 52 secured to its plane cone surface. The plate 52 is constructed substantially as shown in Fig. 6 of United States Letters Patent No. 2,778,040, granted January 22, 1957, on an application filed in the name of Herbert J. Willmott. This plate is characterized by two oppositely disposed recesses at its toeward extremity. When the last is correctly oriented upon the pin 36 the cars 50 projecting upwardly from the block 48 are seated in the recesses at opposite sides of the plate 52 and hold the last against angular movement relatively to the pin 36. With the last in this position the longitudinal median line of its heel end portion is centrally positioned with relation to the tongue 158 projecting forwardly from the wiper 14. In mounting the last on the pin 36 and seating it with the plate 52 in contact with the upper surface of the block 43, the pin 94 is depressed from its position in Fig. 7 to its position illustrated in Fig. 5, thereby swinging the gage member 88 forwardly into engagement with the extremity of the heel end portion of the last at a point adjacent to, and in predetermined heightwise relation to, the cone face of the last. After positioning the last on the work support a shoe upper such, for example as the up er 20, the heel end portion of which is illustrated in Fig. 5, is mounted on the last and its heel end portion is positioned heightwise of the last with its top edge in contact with the gage member 88. The operator then orients the upper relatively to the last so that its back seam coincides with the longitudinal median line of the heel end portion of an insole mounted on the last bottom. inasmuch as the median line is not indicated on the insole the orientation of the heel end portion of the upper relatively to the last and the insole thereon is dependent upon the skill and judgment of the operator. After the upper is so located, the operator grasps the forepart of the last and the upper thereon and advances them heelwardly together with the work support into the inspection station. In this position the extremity of the heel end portion of the upper registers with the tongue 158 projecting forwardly from the wiper 14 affording the operator an opportunity to check the accuracy of the orientation of the upper on the last by sighting the position of the back seam 162 relatively to the side walls of the notch 160. If the back seam is centered relatively to the notch, as shown in Fig. 3, the operator proceeds with the operation of the machine. if the upper is not correctly oriented the operator adjusts it as required. During the advancement of the last and upper from the inspection station to the operating station the extremity of the heel portion of the upper is gripped between the abutment member 144 and the last and is thus held against misplacement so that a correct orientation of the upper at the operating station is insured. The movement of the jack post from the inspection station to the operating station causes the ope-ration of the clutch mechanism thereby to initiate the power cycle of the ma- .7 chine. During the power cycle the wiper 14 is advanced from its position in Fig. 3 to its position illustrated in Fig. 4 to wipe the back line portion of the lasting margin of the upper inwardly over the insole, and upon the completion of the wiping operation, two tacks 164 (Fig. 4) are driven through parallel slots 166 in the wiper 14. The tacks are driven through the lasting margin of the upper and the margin of the insole and are clenched upon a metal plate secured to the heel end portion of the last bottom.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a shoe machine having means for fastening the bottom margin of a shoe upper to an insole on a last bottom, a wiper for wiping the bottom margin inwardly over the insole, means incorporated in the wiper and projecting therefrom in the direction of wiping movement for indicating the position of a shoe upper relatively to a last, means mounting an assembled last, in predetermined angular relation to said wiper, with an upper thereon for endwise movement, a first stop for arresting the assembly with the upper in registration with the indicating means, and a second stop for arresting the assembly upon the completion of the overwiping operation.

2. In a machine for assembling shoe upper parts on a last, a wiper for wiping the bottom margin of an upper inwardly over an insole on a last bottom, means incorporated in the wiper for indicating the position of the heel end portion of the upper widthwise of the last, means mounting an assembled last in predetermined angular relation to the wiper, with an upper thereon for endwise movement, a first stop for causing the assembly to be arrested at a position in which the upper is in registration with the indicating means, and a second stop for causing the assembly to be arrested in a position in which the assembly is located in predetermined relation to the wiper.

' 3. In a machine for assembling shoe upper parts on a last, a wiper for wiping the bottom margin of an upper inwardly over an insole on the last bottom, means for use in positioning the upper on the last comprising an extension of the wiper constructed and arranged to indicate the position of the heel end portion of the upper widthwise of the last and means for gaging the position of the upper heightwise of the last, means mounting an assembled last and upper for endwise movement, a first stop for causing the assembly to be arrested at a position in which the upper is in registration with the indicating means, and a second stop for causing the assembly to be arrested in a position in which the last and upper are properly located for the operation of the wiper.

4. In a machine for assembling shoe upper parts on a last, a wiper for wiping the bottom margin of an upper inwardly over an insole on the last bottom, and means for use in positioning the upper relatively to the last comprising a tongue incorporated in the wiper and provided with a notch extending toewardly therefrom for indicating the position of the heel end portion of the upper widthwise of the last and means constructed and arranged for engagement with the top edge at the heel end of the upper for gaging the position of the upper heightwise of the last.

5. In a machine for assembling shoe upper parts on a last, a work support for mounting the last, a wiper for wiping the bottom margin of an upper inwardly over an insole on the last bottom, means for use in positioning the upper relatively to the last comprising a tongue incorporated in the wiper and provided with a notch extending toewardly therefrom for indicating the position of the heel end portion of the upper widthwise of the last and means mounted on the work support and constructed and arranged to engage the top edge of the heel end portion of the upper for gaging the position of the upper heightwise of the last, means mounting the work support for movement to advance the last heelwardly thereof, a first stop for causing the work support to be arrested with the upper in registration with the tongue, and a second stop for arresting the work support in a position in which the last and the upper are properly located for the operation of the wiper.

6. In a shoe machine, a work support movable to advance the work to an operating station, an abutment member, a spacer constructed and arranged to be engaged by the work support and to be moved by the work support into engagement with the abutment member thereby to arrest the advancement of the work support, and means mounting the spacer for movement into a position in which it is out of registration with the'abutment member.

7. In a shoe machine, a work support movable to advance a shoe thereon to an operating station, an abutment member for arresting advancement of the Work support in a first stop position, a spacer between the work support and the abutment member, and means mounting the spacer for movement by the work support into engagement with the abutment member and for movement in another direction out of registration with the abutment member thereby to permit continued movement of the work support beyond the first stop position.

8. In a shoe machine, a work support movable to ad vance a shoe thereon to an operating station, an abutment member for arresting the advancement of the work support in a first stop position, a spacer between the work support and the abutment member, means mounting the spacer for movement by the work support into engagement with the abutment member and for movement in another d'rection out of registration with the abutment member thereby to permit continued movement of the work support beyond the first stop position, and means for returning the spacer to its position of registration with the abutment member.

9. In a shoe machine, a work support mounted for movement to advance a shoe thereon, a first abutment member for causing the shoe to be arrested in a first stop position, a second abutment member for causing the shoe to be arrested in a second stop position, and a spacer normally positioned between the work support and the first abutment member, said spacer being movable out of registration with the first abutment member thereby to permit movement of the shoe from its first stop position to its second stop position.

10. In a shoe machine, a work support mounted for movement to advance a shoe thereon, a first abutment member for causing the shoe to be arrested at an inspection station, a second abutment member for causing the shoe to be arrested at an operating station, and a spacer normally positioned between the work support and the first abutment member, said spacer being movable out of registration with the first abutment member thereby to permit movement of the shoe from the inspection station to the operating station.

11. In a shoe machine, a support for a last arranged in inverted position, a shoe upper height gage mounted on the support, and means operated by a movement of a last relatively to the support for advancing the gage into operative position.

12. In a shoe machine, a support for a last arranged in inverted position, a shoe upper height gage mounted on the support, means for holding the height gage in a retracted position, and means operated by a movement of a last relatively to the support for advancing the gage from its retracted position into upper gaging position.

13. In a shoe machine, a support for a last arranged in inverted position, a shoe upper height gage member mounted on the work support, means normally retaining the gage member in a retracted position, a member mounted in the work support and arranged to advance the gage member from retracted position to operating References Cited in the file of this patent port to advance the gage member from its retracted po- 10 2,778,040

sition to its operating position.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Pope Aug. 26, 1919 Engel et a1. July 11, 1939 Duplessis Aug. 18, 1942 Ray June 20, 1944 Kneeland Mar. 7, 1950 Seabury et a1. Nov. 29, 1955 Willmott Jan. 22, 1957 

